Sunday, May 25, 2014

"Died as a Soldier Should Die"

Many years ago, I worked as a ranger at Gettysburg National
Military Park. I held plenty of responsibilities, not the least of which involved
leading tours on the battlefield. During my first summer, I had to research and
prepare four programs. One of them was a forty-minute guided walking tour
of the Soldier’s National Cemetery. My program addressed the aftermath of the
battle, the burial of the Union dead, and the meaning of Lincoln’s dedicatory
remarks—things that I believed all visitors ought to learn.

One aspect of my tour made it especially memorable (to me,
anyway). At the end of it, I halted the tour at the gravesite of a New York
soldier: eighteen-year-old Sergeant William H. Ambler, Company D, 57th
New York. During the course of my research, I had found a few documents that
described Ambler’s death. I closed the program by reading some lines
to the crowd. I’d like to share some of them here.

This article appeared in South Salem New York’s local
newspaper:

South Salem—In Memoriam.
Among the slain at the battle of Gettysburg was Wm. AMBLER, of the 57th. Regt.,
N.Y.S.V., a young man from this place. He was killed by the explosion of a
shell, a piece going through his body and cutting him nearly in two. He was among
the first of the three years’ men who responded to their country’s call and for
two years has served his country most faithfully. Youth, though he was—being
but eighteen at the time of his death—he sought the battle-field from no
enthusiastic desire of adventure, but because he felt that duty called him, and
manfully and courageously did he discharge the obligations devolving upon him
as a soldier. The frequent letters he wrote to his widowed mother are
unmistakable evidences that he never regretted the path he had chosen; they are
characterized by a spirit of lofty patriotism and devotion to the cause of
liberty and the right. He was in nearly all of the hard fought battles in which
the Potomac army has been engaged, and once only having been wounded. But his
battles are over. On the bloody field of Gettysburg death claimed the young
hero as his victim, and amid the thousands that fell on those terrible days
none died a truer soldier than he. Sleep brave boy in thy early but honored
grave! The roar of cannon shall not disturb thee more, and drum and trumpet
tone will roll unheeded above thy resting place, for thou sleepest ‘the sleep
that knows no waking.’

But the night dew that falls though in silence it weeps,
Shall brighten with verdure the grave where he sleeps;
And the tear that we shed though in silence it rolls,
Shall long keep his memory green in our souls.

It is with most painful feelings, that I inform you of the
death of our beloved Willie. He was killed instantly at the battle of
Gettysburg by a solid shot entering his right shoulder and passing through his
left side. He was gallantly performing his duty & died as a soldier should
die, beloved by those in command over him & by those he commanded. He was
always prompt to do his duty & although he enlisted as a private, he had
risen to fill the position of a Sergeant & was in a fair way of promotion.
His company & officers sympathize with you in your loss and will always
remember Willie as a true & fine soldier in the support of our glorious
country. It will be a matter of great satisfaction to you, to know, that we
took possession of his body and buried him in a soldier’s grave in the presence
of his cousin Lieutenant Meade of the 4th Michigan Vols. Willie had some money
in his possession, but before we recovered his body, the enemy had taken it
from his pockets. His watch &c. I delivered to Lieutenant Meade, who will
see that you get them. I would have written before, but this is the first opportunity
that has offered. As soon as we reach camp, I shall arrange matters so that you
can get pay, bounty, & pension. Hoping that you will meet your loss with
Christian resignation & fortitude & that you may feel that Willie died
in a good cause while protecting the stars and stripes.

I worked at Gettysburg for eight summers. In the end, I’m not sure how
many tours of the cemetery I ended up leading, but that number certainly crested
100. In each one, Sergeant Ambler’s story made a prominent appearance. Often, I
think back to Memorial Day weekend, when each gravesite had a flag to adorn it.
I liked those days best.

I imagine that they are all adorned that way right now.

(Here is Sergeant Ambler's grave, New York Section, Row E, Number 91.)

(I've found only two photographs of Ambler. This one is the one most often reprinted.)

(Here's me--on the far right--leading a tour to a group of GNMP visitors on a rainy summer morning.)